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We are all spending A LOT MORE time at home right now. Many of us are using this period to declutter, organize, and redecorate in an effort to create a space that is warm, inviting, and well, feels good. Nothing lifts the spirit of the home like an arrangement of fresh flowers. Bountiful blooms at the center of the table or a petite bouquet on the window sill gives any room an instant mood makeover.

You are not alone if you meet the task of properly arranging flowers with hesitation. The eye-catching centerpieces peppering Instagram, Pinterest, and home decor magazines look incredibly complex, even to an expert’s eye. But this shouldn’t hold you back from exploring the joys of artful flower arranging. It is an accessible and easy to acquire skill and we are here to help. Going through the Real BB Wedding archives, we picked beautiful arrangements to get you started. Read on to learn how to recreate these blooming lovelies at home.

What You’ll Need

-Flowers of your choice

-Vase of your choice

-Garden shears

-Thorn stripper

-Tape or string (optional)

-Water

-Preservation solution or bleach

-Pliable Twigs such as curly willow or pebbles (optional)

-Gloves (optional)

Tips For Getting Started

-For a fresh and budget-friendly arrangement, look for in-season flowers.

-Choose contrasting colors and a variety of petal types to create interest, or focus on one color for a more classic look. Greenery adds instant texture and volume.

-Stem length will depend on the size of your vase. Cut stems at an angle using garden shears.

-Fill vase with water. Be sure to remove any leaves that sit below water level. Add preservation solution or bleach to rid of bacteria and maintain flowers’ freshness.

-Start by adding the largest flowers first, what we like to call ‘statement blooms.’ Be sure to turn the vase and arrange at all angles to ensure your desired balance and symmetry. If your centerpiece focuses on greenery, start with the primary greenery elements working in the flowers as you go.

-Fill in the next layer of flowers until entire flower selection has been added.

-Finally, incorporate greenery and other natural elements like grass or thistle. If arrangement’s greenery to flower ratio is equal or more, save some flowers to incorporate at the end.

-For a romantic and natural arrangement, choose flowers and greenery with lots of texture. This arrangement uses many types of roses, and most likely, not all will be available at the local florist, grocery store, or neighborhood bodega. Grab what you can find, 2 to 3 types will work just fine.

-Voluminous arrangements like this often need something to anchor the stems in place – pliable twigs such as curly willow and pebbles are eco-friendly and can be picked up at your local florist.

-A low pedestal stool vase is used here. If you are new to flower arranging, start out with a taller vase to keep the elements more contained so they don’t fall out of the vessel.

-Begin by placing the twigs or or pebbles at the bottom of the vase.

-This arrangement requires adding the greenery first, securing the stems in the twig/pebble base. Once you have a solid foundation, add in the larger flowers. Follow with accent elements – astilbe, clematis, and smaller blooms.

-The beauty of this arrangement lies in its bountiful, organic look. Placing flowers at varying height from the center will create a sense of abundant dimension.

-For smaller arrangements like this one, the rule of thumb is to make the bouquet one and half times taller than the vessel. A 5 x 5 inch square vase is used here, but any shape will do. If you go larger, just be sure to stick to the 1 to 1.5 vase to flower ratio.

-To get a modern look, contrast a neutral palette with punchy hues like vibrant pink. Orchids and standard roses are available year round. If café au lait dahlias and various roses are not available, you can substitute with ranunculus and Phalaenopsis orchids in a bold purple or magenta.

-Cut the stems at an angle so they are slightly shorter than the depth of the vase.

-Start with the hydrangeas and then add in the roses making sure texture and color is distributed throughout. Finish by adding the white Phalaenopsis orchids and café au lait dahlia.

-Greenery is very important – choose elements that vary in texture and color.

-Play up the vintage aesthetic with a metallic vessel – a gold mercury glass compote vase is used here. Milk glass also looks wonderful with this style.

-Start with the greenery. Once you have a solid foundation, add in the larger flowers and follow with the smaller blooms.

-Be sure to leave some elements loose to create a sense of playful movement.

-Berries and feathers are charming substitutes if thistle is not readily available.

-For an added touch, place the arrangement on vintage books, or lay a chiffon or silk scarf around the bottom of the vase.

Like any artistic endeavor, flower arranging is about personal expression and creating something beautiful that stimulates the eye, heart, and mind. While we have provided some basic guidelines to get you started, remember there are no rules when it comes to making the perfect bouquet for your home.